ba

Pronunciation

• enPR: bä
• enPR: bə
• IPA: /bɑː/ · Context: UK
• IPA: /bɔː/ · Context: UK
• IPA: /bɑ/ · Context: US
• IPA: [p˭ɑ˨] · Context: Singapore

Noun human sciences, mysticism

1. A being's soul or personality, represented as a bird-headed figure, which survives after death but must be sustained with offerings of food.

   Egyptian mythology · Topics: human sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences

   • Any ordinary person who has ever floated out of his body during a nap knows what a Ba is, but unfortunately the dogmas of our materialistic culture constrain the person to ignore and repress his experience. - 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 220
   • But the Ba, I remembered, could be seen as the mistress of your heart and might or might not decide to speak to you, just as the heart cannot always forgive. - 1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings

Noun colloquial, singular normally

1. Father, baba.

   colloquial and in direct address

Noun historical, singular normally

1. A medieval football game played in parts of Scotland around Christmas and New Year.

   historical

   • The townsmen played ba often and clearly knew what they were doing. - 2011, Alistair Moffat, The Borders

Noun abbreviation, alt of

1. Abbreviation of bathroom.

   in real estate ads

   • 2 beds, 1 ba

   Coordinate Terms: br

   Related: BA

Particle

1. Used to indicate a tentative suggestion.

   Manglish, Singlish

   • I think you should go see a doctor ba.
2. Used to indicate confident speculation.

   Manglish, Singlish

   • rich pple in here... 15" Conti for 800? thats a little steep... same class as ps4s? / 18" tires about 600 to 750 bah... - 2024 June 7, Vegas, “Planning to get new Rims & Tyres”, in MyCarForum, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2024